Page 142 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 1 - 5

standing in the front of the nest watching the boat. 2436. Do you mean you were standing just about amidships? - Just about amidships in front of the nest. 2437. You were watching the berg. You had got the berg on the starboard side as the vessel’s head veered to port? - Yes. 2438. And you watched it? - I watched it. 2439. Now could you give us any idea of what height there was of ice out of the water? I only want to have some idea of it? - It was higher than the forecastle; but I could not say what height was clear of the water. 2440. (The Commissioner.) How high does the forecastle stand out of the water? The Attorney-General: I think it is about 60 feet. The Commissioner: I do not think it is as much as 60 feet. The Attorney-General: I think she drew about 34 feet. The Commissioner: I was not thinking about her draught, but how high the forecastle would stand from the water. 2441. (The Attorney-General.) I said 60 ft.; I am told it is about 55 feet. (To the Witness.) Can you give us any idea of the breadth? What did it look like? It was something which was above the forecastle? - It was a dark mass that came through that haze and there was no white appearing until it was just close alongside the ship, and that was just a fringe at the top. 2442. It was a dark mass that appeared, you say? - Through this haze, and as she moved away from it, there was just a white fringe along the top. That was the only white about it, until she passed by, and then you could see she was white; one side of it seemed to be black, and the other side seemed to be white. When I had a look at it going astern it appeared to be white. 2443. At that time the ship would be throwing some light upon it; there were lights on your own ship? - It might have been that. 2444. Can you give us an idea to the best of your ability how far off she was when you passed her to starboard? - She hit us. 2445. How far was the vessel from the iceberg? - What did you say? 2446. You have told us your vessel veered to port and then you got the iceberg on your starboard side? - Yes, that is where she hit. 2447. Quite right; that is where she hit, but can you tell us how far the iceberg was from you, this mass that you saw? - It might have been half a mile or more; it might have been less; I could not give you the distance in that peculiar light. 2448. You are speaking of when it was you first saw it? - Yes. 2449. I understand that; you think it might have been half a mile or rather less, and of course you cannot give any better indication than that. I am much obliged to you for that, but it is not quite what I wanted you to tell us. You have told us that she veered to port and then she struck on the starboard side. But when you were looking at her, could you see whether this darkness which you have told us of was any distance from the ship or was it quite close up against the side of the ship? - Close up against the side of the ship on the starboard bow. 2450. Did you see at all how much ice there was that fell on the forewell deck? - I knew there was some there, because I saw it when I went on to the boat deck. 2451. You did not pay particular attention? - No, I had something else to think about. 2452. Give us, to the best of your ability, where it was according to you the vessel struck. I want to get some idea from you? - Just before the foremast. It must have been there because when I went down from the crow’s-nest the water was coming into - I do not know whether you call it No. 1 or No. 2 - it was level with here (pointing on the model.) that is about where it was. 2453. That would be just before the foremast. I am going to ask a little more precisely about that? - The water was coming in down below - I do not know whether it is No. 1 or No. 2.